Gamecocks wrap up first day of practice

Will Muschamp’s first day of preseason camp at South Carolina opened on Tuesday morning.

The practice was a split-squad workout in helmets and shorts. Veterans participated in the first half as the first-year players watched from the sidelines. The team came together as a whole in the middle of practice, during the special teams periods before the first-year players had the final hour to themselves.

“It was a typical first day,” Muschamp said. “We’ve got to continue to improve the urgency of our football team and the tempo of practice, but for the most part I was pretty pleased. But you play football in pads. Right now, we’re in shorts.”

The Gamecocks will continue with the split-squad format for the next three days.

“There was pretty good retention on both sides of the ball and on special teams as far as schematically of what we do,” Muschamp said. “We’re looking forward to continuing to improve every day. We need to find a way to improve as coaches and as players every day to help improve our football team.”

Muschamp added, “The older guys obviously are a little further along. Some of the younger guys have to learn to battle through the heat and battle through the fatigue, but that’s part of it. That’s every year.”

The SEC Network stopped by practice and wired Muschamp with a microphone for “SEC Inside.”

Practice resumes Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. Afterwards, reporters will speak with offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and players from that side of the ball.